Key-board attachment for musical instruments



(No Model.)

0. DE VILBISS.

KEY BOARD ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. No. 440,995. Patented Nov.18, 1890.

I 1 is l z .i.- 0 I A 2&1, y

f4 Z (6 yl wlr/vfssss: film $109.-

1 I, I I a j a By 15 41,2525 3 -A ms at News FEYERS can mow-mum,Wismnurun, a. c.

Unirrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' CASPER DE VILBISS, OF SI-IELLSBURG, IOIVA.

KEY-BOARD ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,995, dated.November 18, 1890.

Application filed August 5, 1390.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CASPER DE VILBISS, of Shellsburg, in the county ofBenton and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement inKey-Board Attachments for Mu sical Instruments, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

The objects of this invention are to furnish a simple practical devicewhich may be attached removably to any cabinet organ or piano, andfurnish means for the mechanical execution of any tune the attachment isadapted to play by periodical movement of the keys of the musicalinstrument.

To these ends my invention consists in certain features of constructionand combination of parts, as is hereinafter described and claimeReference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure] is a front elevation of the device in position on a key-board ofan organ or piano. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device shown inFig. 1, with the attachment removed from the key-board of theinstrument. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section of the lower por-.tion of the attachment seated on a key-board,

taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 shows a modified form forone of the movable parts of the device.

A represents the upper portion of an organ, and B the key-board.

Upon the rear side of the case A of the musical instrument a rock-shafta is jonrnaled at its ends in bracket-boxes b, that are secured at anequal distance from the top board or cover of the instrument, so as tosupport the rock-shaft in a horizontal plane free to rock. At each endof the rock-shaft a, or near the sides of the organ-case A, the arms Bare secured to the shaft, said arms having short portions 1) extendedbelow the rockshaft, the main portions of the arms curving upwardly andforwardly from the shaft a suitable length to support other parts abovethe keyboard. An elongated roller-supporting frame 0 is provided, whichconsists, essentially, of a base piece 0, that is nearly equal in lengthto the length of the key-board B, and has erected on Serial No. 361,093.(No model.)

each end similar bracket-blocks d. The roller frame (1 hasjournal-bearings formed at op posite points in or on thebracket-blocks dfor the loose support of the lower roller D of the attachment, whichroller is cylindrical, of a proper diameter, and a correct length to fitloosely between the blocks (Z.

Anysuitablemeansmaybeemployedtoadapt the roller D for removal fromconnection with the blocks (1, whereon the journal ends e of the rollerare supported, so as to facilitate the lo cation on the roller of anendless sheet E, that is movably retained in a substantially uprightposition by an upper roller F. .As shown in Fig. 1, the preferred meansfor the support of the roller D consists of two studs or axlepins 6,which are inserted in alignment in the ends of the roller, onejournal-pin resting loosely in a groove in one bracket-block d and theother pin engaging the socket end of a driver 0, which has contactlaterally with a lug c on the pin (2, so that the roller will beretained removably on the bracket-blocks free to rotate, a swingingkeeper-bar c serving to hold the opposite journal end of the roller inthe groove it rests within until a re moval is required.

It is essential that the upper roller F should be made removable fromits supports and adjustable for height also. To effect this there areupright standards 9, oppositely secured to project from the top sides ofthe blocks D, parallel to each other. On the standards g sliding boxes hare mounted and adapted for vertical adjustment by the provision ofsetscrew bolts i, that engage the sides of the standards when a properelevation is attained for the boxes. The journaled ends of the upperroller F are revolubly engaged with the boxes h, which are slotted abovethe jour nal-bearin gs in them, so as to permit the roller F to beremoved from the boxes when re quired. The lower roller D is preferablymade larger in diameter than the upper roller F and has its peripherycovered with a thin coating of powdered glass, emery, or similarmaterial to roughen the surface and cause it toengage without slippingthe surface of the endless sheet E. Said powdered material may beapplied directly upon the roller, or a sheet of muslin or paper 6 thuscoated may be smoothly glued upon the roller-face. (See Figs. 1 and 3.)

Upon the outer side of the sheet .16 several series of projectingcam-knobs m, in longitudinal rows, are secured to project at properintervals for their contact with devices which strike the keys on thekey-board l3, and thus produce harmonious tones that together constitutea tune or piece of music.

In the base-piece o of the roller-supporting frame 0 a series of spacedperforations are formed vertically, the distance of their lateralseparation being equal to the spaces between the centers 01' the keys non the keyboard B. The position of the series of spaced apertures in thebase-piece c is such that the axial center of the roller D willcorrespond with the vertical plane of these apertures, in which areloosely inserted the mallet-bars 'n, which are normally retained inelevated adjustment within the guiding-apertures by finger-springs 11the sloping side n, formed on the upper end of each mallet-bar,beingadapted to receive the pressure of the cam-knobs m as they aresuccessively brought to bear upon the bars by a longitudinal movement ofthe endless sheet E in the direction of the arrow in Fig.

As it is important that the series of camknobs m be caused to verticallyalign with the mallet-bars n and be so maintained while the device isbeing operated, provision has been made to effect such a result, whichconsists in radially grooving the upper roller F throughout aconsiderable portion of its length, thereby forming a series of radialribs 0 on the roller, which ribs and alternate spaces cause thetightly-drawn endless sheet- E to travel in a straight; line.

As'an auxiliary to the rollers 1) and F, a tension-roller G is revolublymounted atthe rear of the roller-frame C, so as to have an enforcedcontact with the moving endless sheet E, as shown plainly in Fig. 3,andit will there be seen that the series of cam-knobs m enter the radialaligning grooves 12, that are produced in said roller, these groovesforming alternate ribs, which from their loose contact with the sides ofthe cam-knobs m prevent the sheet E from creeping laterally, while thepressure of the roller G takes up looseness and causes increased tensionin the sheet E. At opposite points '2' on the standards g the forwardends of the arms 13 are attached by belts or other means, so that theentire device is supported to rock with the shaft a on the boxes I).

To enable the operator on a musical instrument having this attachmentprovided to use it at will and play the instrument directly byfingeringthe keys of the keyboard orquickly adjust the attachment toperform a piece of music mechanically, the arms 13 are provided withsprings s, which are located at each end of the rock-shaft a, and haveone end of each connected to the boxes Z) and the opposite ends of thesprings engaged with the arms some distance from the pivotal supports,so that the springs will afford support to the device and normallyretain it elevated from the key-board, as shown in Fig. 2.

The spring-supports s, from their manner of connection with the arms B,allow the roller-frame C and the parts supported on it, to be depressedand be located vertically above the key-board B, and as the contact ofthe mallet-bars n with the keys n of the keyboard should be madeadjustable, so that the pressure of the entire series of mallet-bars maybe increased or diminished, as may be desired, the set-screws t areinserted in the lower surface of the bracket-blocks d, the heads ofwhich bolts have bearing-contact with the case at each end of thekey-board, so that the adjustment of the bolts will raise or lower theroller-frame O.

The preferred means for retaining the frame 0 and attached parts in adepressed position above the key-board B consists of two strong hooksit, which have spiral coils formed in their bodies, the upper ends ofthese hooks being attached to the vertical front of the instrument ateach end of the key-board 13, as shown in Fig. 1, while thelower hookedends of the same are adapted to removably engage the staples orscrew-eyes a, which connection of parts will insure a close adjustmentof the mallet-bars it upon the keys n, and insure a positive depressionof the keys at proper intervals of time to produce the desired effect.

As a means for rotating the driving-roller D, and thus causing aresponsive movement of other parts of the device, there is asprocket-wheel 11 secured on one end of the driver 6', that engages thejournal 0 of the roller D, which wheel is connected by a chain c to apinion 1- that is secured on one end of a revoluble shaft 20, whichshaft has a bevelwheel 10 mounted on and seen red to the other end ofthe same, said bevel-wheel having a meshing engagement with abevel-pinion 10 that is mounted on a short shaft 10 that is revolublysupported on the roller-frame C and rotated by the crank-handle 11-,which, if moved in the direction of an adjacent curved arrow in Fig. 1,will properly actuate all the working parts of the device.

The construction of the mallet-bars n and their attached spring-supportsn is intended for the operation of the keys on an organ, wherein adownward pressure more or less prolonged is necessary to provide propereffects. This must be slightly modified in construction to play a tuneon a piano, as the keys on the latter-named instrument must be given apositive stroke of more or less vigor to vibrate the strings of theinstrument properly and render a piece of music in a presentable manner.

The alteration in construction required to adapt this attachment for therendition of IlO music on a piano is shown in Fig. at. The Viewmentioned shows one mallet-bar of the series, also its manner of supportand means to actuate it, and as a description of one set of mechanismwill answer for the entire series the description of parts shown in Fig.4 will indicate the construction of the entire series needed tomechanically play a piano. The base-piece c is furnished with spacedperforations, wherein the mallet-bars w are loosely inserted, these barshaving their lower ends aligned above the keys of a key-board, areelastically supported to vibrate vertically by the bent spring y, thatengages a hooky, that is driven into the top end of the malletbar, andby its tension holds the mallet-bar normally depressed. A series of earsg are formed on the upper surface of the base-piece c, and between eachadjacent pair of these cars a cam-roller g is pivoted, a toe y on theface of said roller being so relatively located that the contact with itof a series of the camknobs m will be assured. The hook y in the top ofthe mallet-bar w is connected loosely to the peripheral surface of thecam-roller 11 by a staple g so that the periodical rocking movement andsudden release of the camblocks by cam-knobs m on the endless sheet Ewill forcibly elevate the springs 31, which by their resilience resume anormal position and cause the mallet-bars to strike the pianokeys inproper order to render the piece of music for which the knobs of thesheet E have been arranged.

hen the device is to be temporarilyv thrown out of service, the hooks uare detached from the screw-eyes 'u and the frame 0 allowed to rise, asbefore stated, the upward movement being determined by the contact ofthe depending end pieces I) of the arms B with the rear side of the caseA.

There being facility afforded for the interchange of a number of endlesssheets E, which are each constructed to play a different air, therendition of a number of pieces of music on an organ or piano isprovided for in this attachment, whether the performer is skilled inmusic or otherwise.

I am aware that parts of the device herein presented are not broadlynew, some being shown in a device for the same purpose for which apatent was allowed to me on the 14th of July, 1890. Hence I do notdesire to claim these features broadly.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with the case of a musicalinstrument having a key-board, of two spring-supported arms pivoted tothe rear of the case and a roller supporting frame connected to thearms, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the case of a musical instrument having akey-board, of two spring-supported arms pivoted to the rear of the case,a roller-supportin g frame connected to the arms, an endless sheethaving camknobs on its surface and supported on rollers on the frame,and aseries of mallet-bars loosely held in the frame and moved by thecamknobs, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the case of a musical instrument having akey-board, of a roller-frame, which is spring-supported and adapted tovibrate vertically, two parallel rollers on the frame, an endless sheeton the rollers having series of cam-knobs on it, aseries ofvertically-movable mallet-bars in the frame, which are spring-supportedto receive the pressure of the cam-knobs, and means to move the rollersand endless sheet, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the roller-frame, which is elasticallysupported to rock vertically on an organ or piano case, of a lowerroller that is pivotally supported on the frame and has its peripheryrough-coated, a revoluble upper roller that is radially grooved and isvertically movable on standards of the frame, and an endless sheethaving cam-knobs on its outer surface that is longitudinally moved bythe rough-coated roller when said roller is revolved, substantially asset forth.

5. The combination, with a musical instrument case havingakey-board, ofarock-shaft revolubly supported on the case at its rear, two armssecured on the rockshaft and projecting forwardly, and two springs thatare adapted to sustain the arms and parts engaged by the arms, of aroller-frame, standards on the frame, an upper radially-groovedrevoluble roller adj ustably supported on the standards, a lowerdriving-roller having its surface rough-coated, an endless flexiblesheet on these rollers, an auxiliary roller having its body radiallygrooved, a series of mallet-bars, finger-springs for the mallet-bars, adevice which will revolve the lower roller, and a device which willremovably retain the malletbars in contact with the keys of theinstrument, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with a spring-supported roller-frame, standards onthe frame, two spaced rollers on the frame and standards, an endlesssheet on these rollers having series of cam-knobs on its outer surface,a series of vertically-movable spring-supported malletbars in the framebelow the sheet, and a device which will afford means to revolve therollers and move the endless sheet longitudi nally, of a revolubletension-roller having its body radially grooved and which has enforcedcontact with the endless sheet near the lower driving-roller, thegrooves of this roller loosely receiving the cam-knobs of the sheet toprevent lateral displacement of said sheet, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with a musical instrument havinga key-board, of avertically-adjustable spring-supported roller-frame, rollers revolubleon the frame, an endless sheet on the rollers having series of cam-kn0bson its and actuated by the cam-knobs 0f the sheet, outer surface, andmeans to rotate the rollers and move the sheet, of a groovedtensionroller which engages the sheet and its knobs, a series ofmallet-bars below the endless sheet, springs which engage themallet-bars, and earn-rollers connected to the mallet-bars substantiallyas set forth.

CASPER DE vVILBISS.

Witnesses:

DAN. B. PANGBORN, E. I. JONES.

